GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1543, 17 August 1886, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. In the Council last Friday, the District Railways Purchasing Bill, the Property Assessment Bill, the Property Tax Bill, and the Public Revenues Bill passed. In the Legislative Council on Saturday, The Special Powers and Contracts Bill was laid aside. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill passed through all its stages.’ HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representatives on Thursday, On the vote— immigration— £19,200 Mr Balhmce said Government had only introduced farmers with capital, laborers, single women and separated families, but had been careful not to import artisans. Dr Newman moved that the vote be reduced by £IOOO. —After a good deal of discussion Dr Newman’s motion was lost on a division of 20 to 13. In the House on Friday, Replying to questions it was stated that a sum would bo put on the Supplementary Estimates for giving concessions for the encouragement of companies desiring to ( work the bed of the Olulha river for gold ; that Government were not aware of any complaints being made on the question of placing police officers on the same footing ns prison officers, with regard to allowances for uniforms, and there was no reason to increase the pay ot the police ; that the number of gaols in New Zealand being so much in advance of those of Victoria, was the cause of 'extra expenditure in coat of prisoners per head in New Zealand ; that Warder Ferguson being an oid officer of Dftaedin gaol, of twentylive year’s standing, and being dismissed without notice, his retiring allowance was taken into consideration, and £6O was about half what he should have got l ad he been allowed to resign ; that Government could not pul a sum on the Estimates for subsidising voluntary contributions raised by associations for the purpose of importing the natural enemies of rabbits; that instructions would be given for the purpose of reporting upon the result of a series of close seasons that have been observed in regard to the seal fishery. The Railway Construction and Land Act Amendment Bill, the Land Act Amendment Bill, the Property Tax Bill, and the Public Revenues Bill passed. The Premier moved that the House go into Committee on the Representation Bill, [f the population basis was not agreed to by the House he would not go on with it, A long discussion took place with the result that a division was called for, and the Bill was thrown out by a majority of 3. Three Ministers, namely, Sir Julius Vogel, and Messrs Richardson, and Laruach voted against the Premier. The following is the division list Ayes 36: Atkinson, Ballance, Barron, Bruce, Bryce, Buchanan, Buckland W, F., Oonolly Dargaville, Fergus, Fisher, Filzherbert, Fulton, Hakuene, Hamlin, Hirst, Hobbs, Johnston, Lake, Locke, M*carthur, Mitchelson, Montgomery, Moss, Newman, Peacock, Richardson G. F., Rolleston, Stout, Thompson, Tolo, Trimble, Wakefield, White, Wilson.— Noes 39; Bevan, Bradshaw, Brown, Buckland J. 0., Oadman, Cowan, Dodson, Duncan, Fraser, Gore, Grace, Guinness, Hatch, Hurstbouae, Joyce, Kerr, Lane-', Larnach, Levestam, Macaodrew, McKenzie, McMillan, Monteath, O'Oallughan, O’Connor, Pratt, Fyke, Reese, Reid, Richardson E. Ross, Samuel, Seddon *

Steward W. J., Sutter, Taylor, Thomson J, W., Vogel, Walker. —Pairs, for: Moat, Mackenzie M. J. S., Ormond, Stewart D,, Beetbam, Smith, Hurst W. J.; against; Garrick, Iress, Harper, Holmes, Turnbull, Pore, Coster. Major Atkinson immediately attacked the Government, characterising the split in the Ministry as the most disgraceful lie hud ever seen. Fie called on Sir Robert Stout to dismiss those of the Ministry who had voted againt him. Ho denied he wanted the Bill passed because it wou'd add three tn his following. Sir Julius Vogel said the anger shown by Major Atkinson proved to him that ho had given his vote right. During the whole of the session Major Atkinson bad paid the most fulsome compliments to the Premier. No middle-aged woman ever wooed young men more demonstratively than Major Atkinson had wooed the Premier in the hope that he would be taken into the Ministry. He held that Ministers had a right to divide on a matter which was not a party question. ' Mf Moss moved that Parliament should be dissolved, and Mr Rolleston called on. the Premier to resign as three of his colleagues voted against him. The Premier entered into a long explanation. He wished the Bill to pass so as to have it out of the next session. He would promise to make it a Government measure next year. After a few more speeches were made the House went into Committee of Supply, and some discussion arose on the sum o! £2OO, travelling expenses for Members’ wives. The sum of £420 for the Legislative Department passed, and progress was reported. The Railway Authorisation and Management Bill passed, and the House rose. In tho House of Representatives on Saturday, Replying to questions it was stated that in the new volunteer regulations provision would be made for obtaining the proper number of field officers for rifle battalions; that the whole question of the purchase of laud for special settlements would be con-idered during the recess ; that Government recognised the excellent services of the Agent General, and they proposed to ask S'n Union Bell Bell to extend his term of office for two years. ' The Premier said as there was no chance of the conference agreeing on the Local Bodies Loans Bill he would move that the amendments made by the Legislative Council be agreed to, in order that the Road Boards might be able to avail themselves of the provisions of the Bill, After some discussion, Sir Julius Vogel said the Government would either have to abandon the Bill or accept the amendment. He pointed out that one of the amendments was pernicious and mischievous in the last degree, and dead persons would be counted on a poll of ratepayers for a loan under the Bill. Mr Smith thought it would be better to drop the Bill altogether than fo accept the amendments. Major Atkinson was glad the Premier had accepted the amendments, although lie regretted he was compelled to do it. He pointed out, however, that they should not stand in the way of people who could take advantage of this Bill merely because others could not avail themselves of it. The motion that (he amendments of the Council be agreed to " as then carried. In Committee of Supply a lengthy discussion ensued on the proposal to increase the salary of the Secretary from £7OO to £BOO and assistant secretary from £SOO to £sso.—The increases were carried by 19 to 35. Mr Larnach moved that £IO,OOO be added to “miscellaneous aervigs” to provide the Hinemoa with a new boiler. At 7.30 Mr Guinness moved to reduce the Hinemoa vote by £looo.—Lost, and the total vote of £IO,OOO for this steamer was carried by 34 to 14. Supplementary estimates—£l2oo additional cost of census,—Carried. Item £SOO0 —Subsidies of pound for pound. Carried, This item excited much debate, Mr Sutter being especially opposed to it. The motion to omit it was lost by 30 to 24. Hern £2ooo—For services rendered by Sir William Fox under the West Coast Settlement Act. Mr Cowan moved to strike this out. The Premier defended (he vote, which be said had been proposed by vinos Government, and refused by Sir vVilltam Fox. He had since sustained some losses, and he understood that if the. House now passed the item Sir William Fox would accept the money. Major. Atkinson said no one in the country had more fully earned bis honorarium than Sir William Fox by the largo amount of work ho had performed. Ho had contributed greatly to the settlement of the native difficulty, and had always refused any remuneration for his services, though pressed,to accept it by' the previous Government, and he (Major Atkinson) had asked the Government to put the sum on the Estimates. Mr J. C. Brown asked whether it was true that Sir W. Fox had received £lO per day travelling expenses whi'st on-the commission. Tito Premier said he had received actual expenses only. Messrs Hislop and Fisher supported the vote, and Messrs Seddon, O’Connor and others opposed it. Tho Premier said t appeared that certain members wore determined to block the supplementary estimates, and if they persisted Government would have to drop the remainder. Mr Seddon objected to the Premier carrying his measures with the assistahee of the Opposition. He should speak plainly and call, this a compassionate allowance. It was commonly reported that Sir W. Foz was again coming to the House and would be our future premier. The amount proposed to be voted was supposed to provide the wherewithal. Mr O’Connor moved to report progress. Last by 46 to 13. After further discussion the Premier said it was evident they could make no further progress without encroaching on Sunday, and he thought members were not prepared to do that. He moved to report progress. The motion was carried, ami the House adjourned at midnight till XI a.m. on Monday. '